Cleaning apparatus for loading, rotating, and spraying heavy workpieces



Dec. 25, 1951 N. F. CLAYBORNE 2,580,344

CLEANING APPARATUS FOR LOADING, ROTATING, I

AND SPRAYING HEAVY woRKPIEcEs Ipsa wem: I zfmmfgyz,

Dec. 25, 1951 N, F CLAYBORNE 2,580,344

CLEANING APPARATUS FOR LOADING, ROTATING,

AND SPRAYING HEAVY WORKPIECES Filed Allg. 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @mj/Mm Dec. 25, 1951 N. F. cLAYBoRNE CLEANING APPARATUS FOR LOADING, ROTATING,

AND SPRAYING HEAVY woRKPIEcEs 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. l0, 1946 Patented Dec. z5, 1951 OFFICE CLEANING APPARATUS FOR LOADING, RO- TATING, AND SPRAYING HEAVY WORK- PIECES Norman F. Clayborne, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 10, 1946, Serial No. 689,781

4 Claims. (Cl. 134-157) This invention relates to treating apparatus and is particularly useful in the treating or cleaning of motor blocks and the like and for other degreasing operations.

Motor blocks and other engine structures of this type are extremely diicult to treat for the removal of grease, etc., because, of the weight of such structures, the openings or cavities extending through the structures and the diii'culty of reaching such interior surfaces.

In repair operations on motor blocks and the like, it is customary to x to the motor block end supports or extensions which provide tubular surfaces and the tubular surfaces are received within yokes provided by stands having rollers or other means for movement of the stands. rIhe treatment of motor blocks would be greatly facilitated if such stands could be employed by the carrying of the motor blocks into a treating chamber and for removing the blocks after treatment.

An object of the invention is to provide treating apparatus which adapts itself to the 'use oi stands carrying motor blocks whereby the blocks may be brought into the desired position through the use of a stand and then freed of the stand during the cleaning or treating operation. Yet another object is to provide treating apparatus adapted to supply a treating uid to the motor block or the like in such a manner as to enter the cavities of the block and to remove the grease, oil and other foreign matter. A still further object is to provide a treating apparatus in which improved means are provided for supporting a motor block or other object free of the carrier therefor and permitting rotation of the block or other object during the treating thereof with fluid. A further object is to provide traveling mechanism for distributing the iluid in the form of spray or sheets of liquid whereby each portion of the block or other object is eiectively traversed while the same is being rotated. Another object is to provide treating apparatus in which a. spray manifold is reciprocated or oscillated during the spraying operation and during rotation of the object to be treated. Another object is to provide means for rotating a motor block or other object within a treating chamber while providing control means which prevents such rotation until the object is in effective position for rotation. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the speciiication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings; in which- K Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, a portion of the side wall of the casing being broken away; Fig. 2, a broken side view in elevation, a portion of the casing wall being broken away to exposethe interior of the treating chamber; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the spray manifold and mechanism for oscillating the same; Fig. 4, a broken longitudinal vertical sectional View; Fig. 5, a broken transverse vertical sectional view, and Fig. 6, a perspective view of the cross piece at the front of the casing providing the anti-friction bearing for the end support of the motor block.

In the illustration given, A designates a motor block provided with the end supports A1 and A2;

B designates a stand for supporting the bock A by engagement with the end supports A1 and A2; and C designates the treating apparatus involved in this invention and having to do with the cleaning or treating of the structure A.

It will be understood that the motor block A is merely illustrative of objects which may be effectively treated in the apparatus C. The block A is provided with the usual tubular support A1 at one end and at the other end the tubular support A2, these members being secured to the motor block A by suitable brackets and bolts as in the usual practice.

The stand B comprises the vertical members I0 ant transverse frame members II, the frame body being mounted upon rollers I 2. 'The vertical members I0 are inclined towards each other at their top and provide an arcuate saddle or yoke I3. The collar on tubular member A2 is usually provided with a spaced number of openings therethrough adapted to engage an index plunger I4 which extends through an opening in the yoke I3. This structure is we'l known and is employed for supporting the block A in any desired angular position with respect to the yoke I3. For the purposes of the present invention, the index plunger may be omitted and the member A2 allowed to rest freely within the arcuate yoke or seat I3.

The new mechanism C contemplates means for utilizing the stand B to bring the block A into a desired position within the treating chamber so that the block may be engaged by supports within the chamber and then freeing the stand from engagement with the block A and its supports, while at the same time providing means for rotating the block A slowly while it is subjected to the action of washing solutions or other treating solutions.

`The structure C includes a casing' I5 providing a treating chamber, the front portion of the chamber being open to permit the movement of the stand lil into the chamber and from the chamber. The walls of the casing l5 are preferably extended downwardly to provide a sump IE in the bottom of which rests a baille structure i1 formed by longitudinal and transverse partitions.

Extending above the sump I6 are tracks i8 adapted to receive the rollers l2 of stand B. The

tracks i8 are mounted for vertical movement, having extensions I3 thereof secured to links 23. The lower portion of each link 23 is pivotally secured to a transverse and stationary frame member 2| carried by the beams 22. Also carried by beams 22 is the stationary frame member 23 resting thereon, as shown more clearlygin ,Fig 1.

Any suitable means for raising and vvlowering the tracks I8 or other supports for the rollers I2 may be employed. provide a hand lever :24 mountedonpivot 25 and carrying bell crank arm "26. A link 2Tconnects the arm 26 to :the lowei` end vof the forward link 2Q byfmeans of the .sector link 28. Thus by moving the lever 24 backward from the position i.:

shown in Fig. 2, the links 2i! are swung to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 `in which the track members i8 are lowered.

As shown 4more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, I provide a rotary support 29 adapted to receive the ff tubular .end support A1 of block A. The rotary drive member 29 Vis preferably provided with a pin 33 extending `therethrough. and engaging -a slot in the support A1 so that the support A1 will be-required to Arotate with the drive member 23 when the same is rotated. The member 29 is xed to shaft 3| mounted in the anti-friction bearings 32 and 33. The shaft is driven by belts 34 and 35 which engage pulleys 36 and 31 xed to the shaft 3|. are carried by frame standards 38 and 39 at the rear of casing I5.

vBelts 34 and 35 engage pulleys fixed to an auxiliary shaft 46 mounted within the bearing 4|, and on the opposite side of the bearing 4| the shaft e3 carries Vpulley 42. A Vmotor 43 is supported by the frame at the rear of casing |5 and drives a pulley 44 which is connected by belt 45 to the pulley 42 on shaft 40.

Mounted on the forward end of the shaft 43 is a cam wheel 46 which is employed for reciprocating or oscillating spray mechanism which will be later described.

To support the forward end support A2 of the motor `block A, I provide a rotary cylinder 4'! mounted on anti-friction bearings and carried by a disc 4S mounted by means of bolt ,49 upon the cross piece or strap 56,. Cross strap 50 is provided at one end with a bracket member 5| lfixed to the casing l5 and carrying a pivot pin 52 which extends through the looped end 54`of the strap 5|). The opposite end of the strap 59 is adapted to be received within a latch 55 carried by casing I5, when the strap 50 is swung to closed position, as illustrated 'in Fig. l. l

Any suitable pumping mechanism vfor supplying solvent or other treating fluid to the treating chamber may be employed. In illustration given, I provide a base 56 extending rearwardly of casing I5 and upon which is mounted a motor 51. The motor 51 drives through pulleys a pump shaft 53 and discharges uid through the pump cylinder 59 into a flexible hose or conduit 66. The hose 6|) is connected to the rear of a manifold pipe 6|, as shown best in Fig. A3. Extending In the illustration given, I

The bearings 32 and 33 laterally from the pipe 6| is a roller 62 adapted to be engaged by the cam wheel 46 for reciprocating the member 6| and the manifold pipes connected therewith. The portion 6| of the manifold pipe extends through the casing l5 and is normally urged to the left, as illustrated in Fig. 2, by the spring 64. The outer .end of the spring is engaged -by collar secured to the pipe 6|.

The pipe 6|, after extending through the casing |5, engages a T fitting 66, from which extend the lateral pipes 61 and 68. The manifold pipes 63 and y'lll Vare connected to the pipes 6T and '568 and extend forwardly and on each side of the lower portion of motor block A. Connected to the forward end of pipe 'lil is an upwardly turned spray pipe A'|I.

Ripe 68 is provided with slots 'l2 and pipe li is provided with slots 'I3 through which treating solution may be applied to the ends of the motor block. Y

v'The .manifold :pipes 69 and "la are also provided -with -slots .through-which iiuid "mayvbe ldischarged vagainst :the vblock or `other 4object ibeing treated.

The slotsin lthemanifold pipes V65 and `Hi may be of any suitable size and arranged as desired. 'I prefer, however, :to have the slots arranged as shown more Aclearly lin Figs. 3 and All. For .example, :the slots "I4 in pipe 170 may be extended at intervals of ve u(5) inches thereebetween fin one line andthe slots 'l5 fin the line labove' may also extend at intervals of five `(5) inches, :but spaced Vso Vas to `lie 'between the slots `in the Iline below. Thus, between the `slots 'in the two-rows there maybe 4a space of about two and one-half (2%) inches. The slots in pipe 163 l,comprising the lower slots 16 and the upper slots TH are arranged precisely as ydescribed for pipe i3 butofiY set one slot Alength yso that the slots .in pipe :Gif face spaces between slots in pipe 13. With this structure an oscillation in the form of a rec'ipJ rocationof one inch of the entire'man'ifold spray structure produces an loverlapping stream -as a result-of the two manifold pipes 69 and 1-4 which completely traverse theV block A. By the use of this structure, I am able to employ thin streams with an economical use of liquid Whileat the same time effectively covering every inch of surface of the block A. At the same time, the thin streams Vso describedeiiectively pass through the openings `of block A and into the interior thereof so as to cut or remove the grease or other foreign matter therein. Y

t is important that the motor 43 which rotates the member 29 and thereby the motor block'A not be started into operation before the motor block `is completely -free of the stand B. To insure that this will `be the result, 'I provide a rod 36 which is pivotally secured `to the handle lever 24 at one end and `at the other end to a bell crank 13, `as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The crank actuates a link il!!y and the -mercoid or mercury switch 8| controlling `the circuit of motor 43. Thus motor 43 will not start until the handle 24 has been swung to rear position and thereby has dropped the stand 'B `so that it nd longer engegs the motor block A.

The casing I5 may be provided with va suitable vapor vent 32 as indicated.

YSuitable wiring -for the motor and including the safety switch housed within box 83 may beprovided, and the switches for the electric circuits may be housed within a bex 84 supported upon the top of the casing I5.

my Suitable means 4may be provided for clos- Iing the front of the casing C. In illustration .givenI'provide a slide door 85 guided for sliding movement'along the front face of the treating chamber. Above the casing extends a guide eX- tension 86 and bearing a spring counterbalanee 81.-v Aj flexible element 88 connects the spring "within structure 81 to the sliding door 85.

Treating solution may be supplied to the pump 59 by ,any suitable means. In the illustration given in Fig. 1, the inlet of pump 59 communicates Operation In the operation of the structure, a motor block A carried by a stand B is moved into the treating chamber with the rollers I2 resting upon the tracks I8, the sliding door 85 having been raised to elevated position as shown in Fig. l, and the cross strap 50 having been swung to open position to clear the way for entrance of the stand. The tracks I8 guide the motor block A and its rear end support A1 to a position in which the tubular member A1 is telescopically aligned with the support 29. The cross strap 50 is then swung laterally into the position shown in Fig. 1 and in which the anti-friction ring 41 is received within the collar or tubular support A2. The handle 24 may then be swung rearwardly so as to move the links to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus lowering the tracks I8 and stand B. It will be noted that the upper yokes of the stand B now rest below the members A1 and A2 and allow these members to be suspended freely upon the supports 29 and 41. The rearward movement of rod 18 also tilts the mercury switch so that motor 43 may be operated. The closing of the electric switches sets into operation the motor 51 as well as motor 43. Motor 43 rotates the driving member 29 so as to slowly rotate the motor block A While at the same time the cam wheel 46 reciprocates forwardly and backwardly the spray pipe within the chamber. Motor 51 drives pump 59 and the treating solution is drawn from supply tank 99 through pipe 89, pump 59, and thence through flexible conduit 60 into the spray manifold pipe 6 I. The solution is discharged from the slots 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 11 so as to traverse the entire end surfaces of the block as well as the entire side surfaces thereof and also the interior portions of the block.

The washing fluid drops through the open bottom end of the casing A into the sump I6 where sludge and heavy material collects within the partition structure I1, and the lighter material suitable for reuse flows through pipe 9| into the supply tank 90.

When it is desired to discontinue the treatment, the handle 24 is drawn forwardly opening the switch 8l and stopping motor 43. At the same time, the tracks I8 are lifted to engage the stand B and to cause the stand to receive the load of the members A1 and A2 The slide door 85, which was closed during the washing operation, may now be lifted to the position shown in Fig. l, and the stand B with the treated motor block A may be readily drawn from the chamber.

While in the foregoing description, I have set put the structure in great detail for the purpose of illustratingy one vembodiment of the invention, it will be understood thatsuch details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. In combination, a casing providing a treating chamber and a sump therebelow, 'baffles in the lower portion of said sump, track members supported between said sump and said treating chamber, means for raising and lowering said track members, a pair of rotatably mounted support members in the ends of said chamber adapted to receive the tubular end supports of an object to be treated, spray pipes supported within said chamber, motor means for oscillating said spray pipes and for rotating one of said rotary supports, means responsive to said raising and lowering means operative to stop said motor means when the track members are raised and to start said motor means when said track members are lowered, a supply tank connected by an over-iiow to said sump. and means for supplying treating solution from said supply tank to said spray pipes.

2. In combination, a casing providing a treating chamber and a sump therebelow, ballies in the lower portion of said sump, track members supported between said sump and said treating chamber, means for raising and lowering said track members, a pair of rotatably mounted support members in the ends of said chamber adapted to receive the tubular end supports of an object to be treated, spray pipes supported within said chamber, motor means for oscillating said spray pipes and for rotating one of said rotary supports, means responsive to said raising and lowering means operative to stop said motor means when the track members are raised and to start said motor means when said track members are lowered, and means for supplying treating solutions to said spray pipes.

- 3. In combination, a casing providing a treating chamber and a sump therebelow, baiiles in the lower portion of said sump, track members supported between said sump and said treating chamber, means for raising and lowering said track members, a pair of rotatably mounted support members in the ends of said chamber adapted to receive the tubular end supports of an object to be treated, spray pipes supported within said chamber, motor means for rotating one of said rotary supports, means responsive to said raising and lowering means operative to stop said motor means when the track members are raised and to start said motor means when said track members are lowered, a supply tank connected by an over-flow to said sump, and means for supplying treating solution from said supply tank to said spray pipes.

4. In combination, a casing providing a treating chamber and a sump therebelow, bailles in the lower portion of said sump, track members supported between said sump and said treating chamber, means for raising and lowering said track members, a pair of rotatably mounted support members in the ends of said chamber adapted to receive the tubular end supports of an object to be treated, spray pipes supported within said chamber, motor means for oscillating said spray pipes, means responsive to said raising and lowering means operative to stop said motor means when the track members are raised and to start said motor means when said track memover-flow to said sump. and'means for supplying treating solution from 'said supply tank to Vsaid Number spray pipes. n 623,669 NORMAN YF'. CLAYBORNE` 1,285,272

Y 1,447,304 REFERENCES CITED Y 1,431,601 The following references 'are fof record in the 115%655 me of this patent: 1,927,665 UNITED fsTATs PATENTS 2106706 2,225,501 Number Name Date 1;) 2,239,073 506,030 .Blakeslee Oct. 3, 1893 2,393,215 579,746 Etches- Mar. 30. 1897 Nam Date Hooper et a1. Apr. '25. 1899 Lutolf Nov. 19., 1918 Hauk. Mar. 6, 1923 Goldman et a1. J an'. 22, 1924 Braunschweig Aug. 4, 1925 Kirby Sept. 19, 1933 Gordon Feb. 1, V1938 Lapham et a1 Dec. 17, 1940 Arey et al Apr. 22, 1941 Arey et a1. 1 Jan. 15, '1946 

